Regulation of immune responses by modulation of the function of antigen presenting cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of chaperonin 10 to modulate the function of antigen presenting cells. More particularly the invention resides in the modulation of cell surface expression of MHC molecules such as HLA.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, allergy, and asthma in a subject by modulating cell surface expression of at least one MHC molecule, wherein the method consists essentially of administering to the subject an effective amount of chaperonin 10, wherein the effective amount is about 0.01 mg to about 500 mg per kg body weight per 24 hours, thereby to treat the disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, allergy, and asthma, wherein the chaperonin 10 is a human chaperonin 10 selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further consists essentially of modulating cell surface expression of at least one costimulatory molecule. 
     
     
       3. A method for modulating cell surface expression of at least one MHC molecule in a subject having a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, allergy, asthma, or in at least one cell, tissue or organ thereof, wherein the method consists essentially of administering to the subject an effective amount of chaperonin 10, wherein the effective amount is about 0.01 mg to about 500 mg per kg body weight per 24 hours, such that the administration modulates cell surface expression of at least one MHC molecule in the subject to treat the disease or condition, wherein the chaperonin 10 is a human chaperonin 10 selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the method further consists essentially of modulating cell surface expression of at least one costimulatory molecule in the subject, or in at least one cell, tissue or organ thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the MHC molecule is selected from the group consisting of an MHC Class I molecule, an MHC Class II molecule, and a non-classical MHC molecule. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the MHC molecule is a MHC Class II molecule and the MHC Class II molecule is selected from the group consisting of HLA-DR, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the cell surface expression is that of an antigen-presenting cell. 
     
     
       8. A method for modulating antigen-presenting cell function in a subject having a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, allergy, asthma, or in at least one tissue or organ thereof, wherein the method consists essentially of administering to the subject an effective amount of chaperonin 10, wherein the effective amount is about 0.01 mg to about 500 mg per kg body weight per 24 hours, such that the administration modulates antigen-presenting cell function in the subject or in at least one tissue or organ thereof to treat the disease or condition, wherein the chaperonin 10 is a human chaperonin 10 selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the antigen-presenting cell is selected from the group consisting of a macrophage, a dendritic cell and a B cell. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of migration to a lymph node, T cell activation and T cell proliferation. 
     
     
       11. A method for modulating production, localization within a cell and/or cell surface expression of one or more immunomodulators in a subject having a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disorder, allergy, asthma, or at least one cell, tissue or organ thereof, wherein the method consists essentially of administering to the subject an effective amount of chaperonin 10, wherein the effective amount is about 0.01 mg to about 500 mg per kg body weight per 24 hours, and wherein the chaperonin 10 modulates cell surface expression of at least one MHC molecule to treat the disease or condition, wherein the chaperonin 10 is a human chaperonin 10 selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the chaperonin 10 further modulates cell surface expression of at least one co-stimulatory molecule. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the MHC molecule is selected from the group consisting of an MHC Class I molecule, an MHC Class II molecule, and a non-classical MHC molecule. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13  wherein the MHC molecule is a MHC Class II molecule and the MHC Class II molecule is selected from the group consisting of HLA-DR, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the cell surface expression is that of an antigen-presenting cell selected from the group consisting of a macrophage, a dendritic cell and a B cell. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the MHC molecule is selected from the group consisting of an MHC Class I molecule, an MHC Class II molecule, and a non-classical MHC molecule. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the MHC molecule is a MHC Class II molecule and the MHC Class II molecule is selected from the group consisting of HLA-DR, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cell surface expression is that of an antigen-presenting cell. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the antigen-presenting cell is selected from the group consisting of a macrophage, a dendritic cell and a B cell. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the antigen-presenting cell is selected from the group consisting of a macrophage, a dendritic cell and a B cell.